Stitch-forming device.



S. W. WARDWELL.

STITCH. FORMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION IILEDMA'Y 17, 1907.

l8 rigtau w/r/gym Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

. m/MMI 44 WW -g} ATTOR/YEKS s WQWARDWELL. STITCH FORMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1907.

Patented Mar. 5,1912.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

S. W. WARDWELL. STITCH FORMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Mun, 1907A Patented Mar. 5,1912.

4.SHEETSSHBET 3.

wlm/zgfis I 4 l/WEN T0)? [v afl wuvw v v v i Arromvcrq S. W. WARDWELL.

STITCH FORMING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 17, 1907.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES I V W 2 4am Mag/r r g n-144a,, W11,

ATTQ/EWEKS To all whom it may concern smou w. WARDWELL, or mov neuczs, ntone rennin.

Be it known that I, SIMON WV. lVAnownLn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improven'ients in Stitch- Forming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a novel rotary stitch forming device for sewing machines.

The purpose of my invention is to eliminate the frictional resistance incident to the contact of moving elements with other elements, and to reduce to a minimum'the friction between the needle loop and the surfaces 'with'which it must make contact as it passes the shuttle thread supply, thereby Specification 6; Letters Patent.

Application filed Kay 17, 190?. Serial No. 374,182.

removing influences which usually afi'ect anddisturb the tension of the thread.

A further purpose is to avoid the use of oil in the stitch formingdevice or on its thread engaging parts.

The accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, represent, resp ec-- tively, Figure l, a front view of one embodlment of my invention; Fig. 2, a. side view; Fig. 3, an enlar ed sectional view .on; l1ne aa of Fig. 1; 1g. 4, a perspective- -view of the bowl; Fig.5, a sectional view' of the carrier; Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, details of the retainer and means for securing samein carrier; Figs. .10 to 27 inclusive are diaf grammatic, showing the manner in which the stitch is formed. Figs. 28 and 29, illusl trate a modification.

' The stitch forining device comprises three members, viz.: a rotating bowl mcase 2,

which-revolves the hook 21 to conduct the needle loop through the stitch forming process, a carrier 3 within the case 2, in

rolling engagement therewith and rotated thereby, and a non-rotatable retainer 4 within the carrier to hold the shuttle threat supply such as a bobbin, or the cop 15 within the carrier, restraiiiin it from rotation due to the movementof t 1e carrier and permitting rotation due to draft of the .threiid M M in forming the stitcln Operating in cox 1 unctlon with the above enumer ted elements of my invention is the need olfi, and there is also indicated the clotlip'late 6-see Figs. 1 and 2. The arrangementof these STITCH-FORMING DEVICE.

parts is best indicated in the sectional view Fig. 3, where, asshown and as indicated by its name, the bowl or case 2 has a bowlshaped cavity 7, cylindrical for a short dis tance and then contracted convergent-1y to the'back, which is the bottom of the bowl. To this bottom or back 8 is secured the shaft 9 which rotates in the bearing 10. In external form the bowl 2 is of cylindrical periphery for a short distance from its rim 20 backward, and then converges backward in frusto-conical form to the bottom or back 8. i In the rim 20 of the bowl is formed a hook 21 whose throat- 22 extends diagonally from the rim 20 across the periphery 23 to near its opposite edge. As may be seen from. Fig. 2, and Fig. 4, the terminus of the hooks throat is a substantial distance from an annular groove 11, to be later defined. The working point of the hook 21 is on the front of the bowl rim 20 with its extremity 29 adjacent the periphery of the rim. On the opposite side of the opening 30 of the book, the inner edge of the. rim 20 is cut away at: 31 to form a clearance for the thread when the loop is withdrawn from the hook as afterward explained. In the periphery 23 is formed a groove or channel 24 whichextends diagonally from the throat 22 of the hook 21 to the edge of the ri1n20. In the interior cylindrical surface of the bowl and near its edge is formed the groove 11 referred to, extending around the interior of the bowl, and in this groove, held by its walls, lies a projection orfiange 12 of the carrier 3. The carrier 3 also. is a hollow member, as indicated by Fig. 5, having a thin, peripheral flange 12, which, as just described, seats in the internal groove 11 withholding, by its engagement with the walls of the groove, the carrier 3 from displacement tate in mesh with an internal gear, only here there are no teeth required,- for the transmission of the bowls rotation to the carrier is due to the frictional engagement of the two, superinduced by the weight of the carrier 3 and its contents, which mode of trans .mission is adequate and preferable. -The depth of the groove 11 and the height of: the flange 12 are such that when the carrier 3 is in place, a crescent-shaped space or opening 27 is formed between the periphery of the flange 12 and the inner surface of the bowl 2. This openingprovides a passage through which a portion of the needle thread enters the interior of the bowl, and .passes around. the carrier 3 to form the stitch. The location of the widest part of this opening is normally at the top, near the needle thread, dependent on the radial position of the carrier 3, as governed by saidthread, all of Which will be later explained. The body of the carrier 3 extends backward with a sloping or frusto-conical forn from the flange 19. to the back or bottom of the carrier. The distance from the edge of the flange 12 to the base of the frusto-conical back portion is slight. The

frontofthe carrier 3 protrudes from the bowl 2 with rounded, bulging form, and the distance from the base of this bulge to the edge of the flange is substantially greater than the'corresponding distance at the back of the flange. The outward protrusion of the carrier balances the latters inward, frusto-conical.formation, making the carriers sectional form at a plane intersecting its axis, substantially lenticular and symmetrical with a line passing through the needle. The purpose of this formation is to cleave ordivide the loop, in passing the carrier, equally to either side of the needle line, as will be further explained when the stitch formation is analyzed.

\Vithin the interior of the carrier 3 is a post or stud 13 integral with or secured to the carriers bottom, and the said post has near its extremity a peripheral groove 14 for purposes to be defined later. Mounted on this post is the retainer 4 which is preferably of the form indicated in Fig. 6, substantially semi-circular in its bottom part,

below the point of suspension or mounting,-

and above this havin an arm 16 which projects across the end 0 the cop and beyond its periphery or face, and then across the said face, and having a sleeve 17 by which it is supported on the post 13. This form and arrangement establishes the retainers center of gravity below its center of suspension, causing it to ride upright and resist any tendency to be rotated, by the rotating carrier 3, through the stud 13. This resisting eiiect couidbe still further increased by en- I larging the bottom part of the retainer, as

for example, extending beneath the thread supply, as shown in Figs. 28 and 29. I prefer, however, to drop the center of gravity of both the retainer and its thread mass I below their center or axis of suspension, and accomplish this in the following manner: The sleeve 17 by which the retainer 4 is mounted on the post 13 has an eccentric bore and isso secured to the retainer that its bore is concentric with the latters semicircular part. The outer, cylindrical surface of the sleeve 17 is therefore eccentric to the axis 'of suspension of the retains! which is likewise the axis of rotation of tfie carrier 3, and the 001) or shuttle thread supply is carried on the exterior cylindrical surface of the sleeve, it likewise is eccentric.

gravity, thereby accomplishing the highly desirable function of delivering a thread which is constantly uniform in tension and consequently a resultant stitch of great regularity and evenness. As is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, any tendency of the retainer to rotate, due to draft of thread therefrom, is

prevented by the thread drawing through the eye -16 in the arm 16, or the thread might be simply led up across .the arm to prevent such rotational tendency. The cop 1."), itself, rotates on the sleeve 17 to deliver thread to the stiiching,

The retainer 4 is held on the post 13 by f the spring clip 18 which'lies in the groove 19 of the eccentric sleeve 17. This groove is sufiiciently deep to cut across the eccentric axial hole of the sleeve 17, and is so located, registering with the groove 14 of the post 13 when the retainer 4 is in position in,

the carrier 3,that the ring 18 serves as alock. Little retaining resistance is required to hold the retainer imposition, so that the spring ring 18 requires but little constrictive elasticity and therefore the retainer 4 can be easily pushed on or removed from the post-13.

Having now particularly described the component elements in formand inter-relation,'I will describe their coaction with the needle 5, and to most clearly effect such description, present six sets of diagrammatic views, each set depicting the relation of the loop to the bowl 2, to the carrier 3 and to both. in sixpditferent phases of the stitch forming process.

The needle when lifted-is poised above the bowl 2(Figs. 1 and 2) and in such posit1ou that in its downmovement it passes directly by and close to the ring 20 and,-

when the hook 21 catches the needle loop,

it into the loop throat '22 (see l ig.,10). In s'otloing, the portion 26 of th'eneedle loop is led'to the channel 2-l and the portion 26 lot the loop'is drawn in bet-ween the bowl 2 and the carrier 3, through the'openin and across the flange 12, Fig. 11. ereafter, to further identify in the drawings the two portions of the loo the portion 26" 'will be shown dotted, and the portion-215 in a dot-dash line. As the bowl-2 turns,

1 (Fig. 13) revolving the hook'21,-the loop portion 26" follows'the channel24, (Fig. 13) Q while the lower loo portion 26 draws over and then lies outsi e of theflange 12, (Fig.

14:) due to the throat 22 Fi .4 extending .wiell toward tlieinner side 0' the flange 12. I "ur -.the1"rotation of the bowl, as indicated by Fig. 18,.causes the loop portion 26? to drop over the edge of the carrier 3 (Figs. 16 and 18). The other loop portion 26", as indicated in Fig. 17 being within the bowl, falls on the inclined back of the carrier. Still further rotation, indicated by Figs. 19, 2t) and 21, cleaves or spreads both portions of tlit-"loop 2(Sapart, the portion 26 falling on the bulging'outer face of the carrier 3, and the portion 26" falling on the conical back portion of the same element. This stage is the commem-enient of the passage of the loop 26 by the carrier 3, the loop 26 being drawn by the revolving hook 21 past the said carrier. As the hook revolves, the loop portion 26 clings for a time to the protuberant front and the loop portion 26 to the conical back of the carrier, so at first that theaction is similar to that of a cord run onto the periphery of a wheel or sheave both moving at the same speed. Then, after a certain periodof advance of the hook 21. the two portions of the loop 26" and 2t} fall or drop over the 'front. and back, respectively, of the carrier 3. ".lhisiolliilg action' ofthe carrier, with the revolving of thehook 21. carries the loop to the position indicated by Figs. 22.23 and 24. This combined leatiling action of the hook2l. with the rolling, conveyor action of the carrier 3, which rolls through the loop, draws out such extent of loop that when the latter. n

its two parts, falls over the front and back of the carrier, so loose is its tension that there .IS no friction in its/passage over the latter. The smooth, bulging face of the carrier 3 and its continuation or complement in the face of the retainer 4, together with the conical back of the carrier, lend to the ease of passage. of the loop 26 past the carrier, because their smooth. polished surfaces are so formed as. to presentno obstruction.

Figs; 22, 23 and 24 show the loop after it i has passed by the carrier El. .\s the book 21- passes by the vertical center the tension. of the take-up tends to draw the loop 26 out of the-hook 21, and the loop then bears on the rim 12 of the carrier 3-see Fig. 24. Here appears the function of .the clearance 31 on the rim 20. before described, permitting the loop to be readily withdrawn and relieving it of the pinching which would otherwise occur between the carrier and the bowl, so that after the stitch is formed the loop can be taken up freely by the take-up without restriction.

Figs. 25, 26 and 27 show the slit('l1-f(i1l1lingoperationcompleted, the loop 26 having passed completely around the retainer 4 whichrontains the shuttles thread supply,

and now being free to be drawn-up through, the cloth. i v

The reason for the slight distance from the edge of the flange 12 to the base of the frusto-coniealportion of the carrier must now be apparent. As the loop bottom 26* enters between the bowl 2 and carrier 3 from the rim 20, there is a natural tendency for it to pull out. instead of over, behind the carrier 3; but the quick engagement with the tapered body of the carrier causes a quick cleaving or splitting of the loop, and also causes the thread to travel across the flange and over back of the carrier, as desired. The more extensive space on the part of the carl'ier 3 from the e lge of the flange 12 to the base of the bnlg is to make room for the point of the needle. In brief, the bowl 2, with its book 21, constitutes a conducting element which engages the needle loop and (leads it around the shuttle thread supply.

thread supply; second, as a conveyer for.

carrying the loop as it is led by the hook 21 during part of its passage around the shuttle thread supply, and, then. third, as a cleaver. and guard to split the needle loop andt'pass it to either side of and by the shut tlefthread supply, avoiding its contact therewith; and, fourth, as an anti-friction intermediary between the rotating bowl and the stationarythread supply retainer with- 1n the bowl. Because of this construction,

no oil is required on or in the thread manipulating parts,'thus removin liability to oil stains and obviating care ul attention to their lubrication. In effect, the shuttlethread suppl and its adjuncts are mounted antifrictiona ly within the case or bowl which carries the looping hook.

' diagrammatic 1 views.

As the stitch forming process consists in passing'the cop case and its Contents through the loop 26-or vice versa-it has not appeared essentialto depict the thread led from the cop within the shuttle in these Such delineation would, rather, be detrimental, confusing the views and lending no force to the explanation.

I believe myself the first to devise a stitch forming mechanism'having a-rotatable support, a carrier situated within the support and rotated therewith, and a non-rotatable thread retainer situated within the carrier, and thcrefore I desire to claim same broadly, without limitation asto the specific forms or arrangements employed.

What I claim is:

1. In a stitch forming device for sewing machines, the combination with a needle for the upper thread and a flanged carrier tor the lower thread supply, of a rotating bowl having a hook to engage'the needle loop and. present it to the lower thread supply I and also having a track within its interior in which traek'the barrier rolls by its flange which alone, without other agency, restrains the carrier from axial movement, maintaining free passage for the needle loop between the CRIIIEIYflJldlhG bottom of the bowl as well as past the outer end of'the carrier, the latter rolling over the bottom portion of the loop wlnch extends across the track, in

the formation of the stitch.

2. In a stitch forming device, the combination with a rotating bowl having a hodk and an internal track, of a carrier held to the track by a flange and rolled in the track by rotation of the bowl and held within the bowl and withheldflfrom axial movement with relation to the bowl by engagement of by said engagement.

the flange and track'and by no other agency.

3. In a stitch forming device, the comb nation with aTot'atmgbowl having a hook.

of a carrier retained within the bowl and withheld from axial" movement relative thereto by ei'igagement with the interior of the rim of the bowl and rotatively driven 4. In a stitch formin device, thecombination with a rotating )owl having a hook to engage the needle loop, of a carrier to spread the loop mounted within, the bowl and rotatable therewith and having a surface protruding without the bowl. upon which surface a part of the needle loop is drawn and which by its rotary movement propels said loop along as the latter advances t the point where it is spread to pass the carrier.

5. In a stitch forming device, the combi- 6. In a stitch forming device for a sewing machine, the-combination with a rota-ting bowl and a carrier-mounted eccentrically within the bowl and having within itself a central post. of a retainer hung pend ulousiy thereon by an eccentric sleeve.

7. In:a cop retaining device for sewing machine shuttles, the combination with a post having a peripheral groove in its outer end, of an eccentrically bored sleeve having aperipheral groove which intersects the bore of the sleeve and which groove registers .with the groove of the post when the'parts are in position, and a spring clip n the groove of the sleeve to engage the groove of the post, as described.

8. In a thread supply retainer for a sewing machine, a substantially semicir ular, dished plate, ha ving an arm to project :across the thread supply to engage the outgoing thread and prevent, rotation of the retainer, and an eccentrically bored sleeve to support the thread supply. V

9. In a stitch forming device, the combination with a rotating carrier for the shuttle thread'supply, of a bowl 2 rotatively engag ing the carrier, and without which a rotating surface of said carrier protrudes, a hook 21 thereon, and provided with a throat extending diagonally across the periphery of the bowl,-and having a clearance 31 formed at the inner edge of the b'owls rim, as described.

10. 'In stitch forming device, the combination of a rotating bowl, a carrier within the bowl, ,rotated' by rolling engagement with the rim of the bowl, and maintained by engagement with said lilfi from making end -engagement with the bowl, and a thread re;-

tainer connected therewith and sup ported and'constructed to remain stationary by gravitation. ,1" i

- 11. In a stitch forming device, the combination with a needle for the upper thread, of a rotating bowl with a hook adapted to engage a loop of the. needle thread, an auxiliary member rolling within the bowl and protrudingtherefrom to receive and carry said loop, and a retainer for the under thread connected to and within said auxiliary member and withheld by gravity from rotating with said auxiliarv member.

'12. In a stitch forming device, the combination with a needle for the upper thread, of a rotating member having means to draw lie the thread from the needle, an auxiliary In testimony whereof I affix my signature member ridin within and maintained amin presence of two witnessm ally by said rst member, an undenthread retalner connected with the auxiliary mem- SIMON A ARDWELL' 5 her and mamt-ained non-rotating by gravity, Witnesses:

and means to actuate said mechanism t0 CHAS. A; EDDY,

form the desired stitch; EDWIN 0. SMITH. 

